Don’t Forget to Sign Your Tax Return!

Written by Nickel - 13 Comments

I know that many of you file taxes electronically, but for those of you that still file a paper return, here’s a tip: Don’t forget to sign your return! I only bring this up because, after years of filing electronically, we used a tax pro this year and ended up filing a paper return. And I almost (almost!) forgot to sign it. Almost, as in I slipped it into the envelope and was about to seal it when I realized that my wife and I needed to sign it. Oh, how that would’ve sucked. But I remembered, and now I’m reminding you.

Sign your tax return!

Published on April 13th, 2007 - 13 Comments
Filed under: Taxes
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About the author: Nickel is the founder and editor-in-chief of this site. He's a thirty-something family man who has been writing about personal finance since 2005, and guess what? He's on Twitter!

Comments (scroll down to add your own):

Also make sure that you put everything that is required into the envelope before mailing it.

I just got my tax return sent back to me yesterday because the state wanted me to include Schedule 1 to explain why I have a $2.00 deduction to my income on line 15.
Comment by Blaine Moore — Apr 13th 2007 @ 9:35 am
Why *do* you have a $2 deduction on line 15?

Comment by nickel — Apr 13th 2007 @ 9:46 am
I remembered to sign our return, but *almost* forgot to have my husband sign it. I had forgotten how many things go with the paper return after a few years of e-filing. Since we had to pay this year, we had the check and the payment voucher along with it.
And don’t forget *proper postage* if you have a thick stack of papers in the envelope.
Comment by RootAnn — Apr 13th 2007 @ 10:37 am
I did exactly the same thing: Folded up the big wad of papers, stuffed it in the envelope and almost licked it before I remembered to sign it.
Comment by Tinyhands — Apr 13th 2007 @ 1:54 pm
I actually forgot to sign it last year. In case you’re curious, they just send it back to you with a note asking you to sign it. Also, if you file electronically, you may still need to submit a signature in some cases.
Comment by James — Apr 13th 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Stuff all your receipts for write-offs in the envelope too. I have forgotten to do that in the past.

Tax time is such a pain…
Comment by Crediteria.com — Apr 14th 2007 @ 4:18 am
Crediteria - you don’t need to submit receipts; if you file by mail, all you need to submit are forms that indicate withholding (W-2s, some 1099s, some social security statements)
Comment by CPA1298 — Apr 14th 2007 @ 1:47 pm
Thanks for the reminder, Nickel!
Comment by Flexo — Apr 14th 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Believe it or not: I actually forgot to sign my state return. I was shocked! They just sent me a form for me and hubby to sign and that was that.
stupid, stupid, stupid!
Comment by cynthia — Apr 15th 2007 @ 9:06 am
I think I read somewhere that some of the most common things that trigger an audit are using the wrong SSN or forgetting to sign your tax return.
Comment by Ben — Apr 16th 2007 @ 1:51 am
We forgot to sign the check that was enclosed in the tax retun. Anyone know what will happen next?

Thanks!
Comment by 2006 Tax — Apr 17th 2007 @ 9:29 am
I forgot to sign both my federal and state return checks. They cashed the federal one anyway, but still waiting on my state one… if anyone else made that same mistake and was worried.
Comment by aimee — Apr 21st 2007 @ 1:56 pm
I forgot to sign my return! And I mailed it yesterday….Thanks for letting others know what will happen. I thought I might have to copy and send the whole thing again, signed of course. I owe so not waiting for any $$.
Comment by frances — Apr 15th 2009 @ 12:43 pm